2024 Hot Water Forum & Hot Air Forum

Hilton Atlanta | Atlanta, GA

The 2024 Hot Water Forum (HWF) is the premier technical conference dedicated to efficiently producing, distributing, using, and reusing hot water. Since its inception in 2008, this two-day conference has brought together seasoned experts and newcomers to exchange knowledge, foster innovation, and help drive market transformation.

In addition, ACEEE presented the second Hot Air Forum (HAF) in 2024, focusing on decarbonizing space heating in buildings of all kinds through heat pumps. Both conferences explored how these industries can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve grid resilience, and center equity.

Previous HWF/HAF gatherings have attracted diverse attendees, including equipment and component manufacturers; water, gas, and electric utility professionals; and local, state, and federal agency representatives. Energy efficiency program planners, operators, evaluators, electricians, plumbers, installers, policymakers, representatives from NGOs, engineers, consultants, and other experts have found value in the sessions and great networking at the events.

Click here to see a list of organizations that participated in the 2023 Hot Water and Hot Air Forums.

Program & Presentations

Additional Events

A Commitment to Training the Workforce at Rheem's Innovation Learning Center-ILC

On Monday, March 11, attendees visited Rheem’s Water Heater Division headquarters in Roswell, Georgia. During the visit, they had an opportunity to interact with members of Rheem Water Heater Division leadership and tour one of Rheem’s seven US Innovation Learning Centers (ILCs), where plumbers receive training on how to sell, install, and service Rheem products and sustainability best practices. In addition to the ILC facility and hands-on training room, visitors also saw their on-site innovation lab, where work is done on the next generation of water heating products, features, and functionality.

Shameless Commerce

On the evening of Wednesday, March 13, we hosted our “Shameless Commerce” event. One of our most popular forum activities, it allows attendees to pitch new products or services. In a rapid-fire format, each participant had the opportunity to present a three-minute infomercial to the audience.

Program

Click here to view the program.

Click here to view the schedule at a glance.

Ensuring Equity in Household Weatherization and Electrification | Wednesday Lunch Keynote, March 13 (12:30 – 1:30 p.m.)

We heard from the Honorable Stacey Abrams, senior counsel for Rewiring America, former gubernatorial candidate, and former minority leader of the Georgia House of Representatives.

Weatherization and electrification are key to decarbonizing buildings, and will lower bills and improve health, safety, and comfort. But we must ensure low-income and disadvantaged communities are part of the clean energy transition.

The Home Energy Rebate Program and Other New Federal Programs Affecting Space Heating and Hot Water | Tuesday Plenary, March 12 (9:00 – 10:30 a.m.)

We discussed the Home Energy Rebate program, which started in 2024 and will ultimately provide about $9 billion for residential energy efficiency and electrification upgrades. We also discussed a few other new federal programs, such as for state and local building codes and performance standards targeting zero emissions and expanding heat pump production in the U.S.

Transforming Markets for Space and Water Heating | Wednesday Plenary, March 13 (9:00 – 10:30 a.m.)

The widespread use of heat pump technology for space and water heating will be necessary for decarbonization. This panel provided a variety of perspectives on how, and what, will be necessary to make this transformation happen through a mix of creative marketing, program and policy efforts. The panel featured perspectives from different segments of the market chain and from different regions.